Apple Country Chiropractic Shares Tips for Lifting Safely to Prevent Back Pain

Have you heard how lifting can be hard on a low back? If you are a Williamson chiropractic patient with low back pain, you have! You’ve likely even experienced it directly. Apple Country Chiropractic describes proper lifting techniques to our back pain patients in the beginning of treatment. It is important to protect the spine while it heals! New studies suggest that back supports and even hand support techniques during lifting can help.

MECHANICAL LOADING DURING LIFTING

Mechanical loading is a major risk factor for low back pain. The loading may be from a heavy or light object that prompts Williamson back pain. Much of how the pain comes on is due to how the back muscles act during the lift. Newly designed “exoskeletons” are being tried. They go beyond a back brace but show some promise in decreasing lumbar flexion and decreasing the compressive force on the back by 13-21% while bending. Peak compressive force during lifting was reduced by 14%. The researchers are optimistic that such devices could reduce the risk of compression-related tissue failure during lifting. (1) For now, Apple Country Chiropractic focuses on what is available widely today to help our Williamson back pain patients control their back pain once the pain is diminished by controlling their spine-related motions.

CHIROPRACTIC LIFTING TIPS

It would seem that there would be a huge difference in spine action between picking up a pencil and lifting a crate, but there is not much difference when discussing how the low back responds during lifting. Interesting! Researchers wanted to see if the common way most people pick things up off the floor – with a hand on a thigh for support – made a difference. They thought that it would result in reduced load on the back. The volunteers lifted two kinds of things - a pencil and a crate - off the floor with researchers logging every move and muscle response. Using a hand on the thigh for support while reaching for the pencil on the floor decreased the average peak total stresses by 17 to 25% (depending on the lifting method). Hand support while lifting the crate reduced the peak total stresses by 13-19% for one-handed lifting and 14-26% for two-handed lifting. (2) Hand support during lifting may protect the low back. Apple Country Chiropractic has some other ways to limit lifting stresses on the spine to control Williamson back pain and its recurrence: support belts to exercise to spinal manipulation to back school. It’s a comprehensive treatment plan you will want to embrace!

CONTACT Apple Country Chiropractic

Listen to the PODCAST with Dr. Matthew Alexander on the Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he explains the effectiveness and gentleness of the Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management for his patient with spinal stenosis and low back pain.                                       

Schedule your next Williamson chiropractic appointment with Apple Country Chiropractic. Lifting can stress the low back. Chiropractic care eases the stress on the low back for back pain relief.  Call us today!